New Pegasus crossing boosts safety near Rochdale schools and Healey Dell

Friday, 16 May 2025 15:36

By David Murphy

Cllr Shah Wazir with pupils from Shawclough Primary School

A new Pegasus crossing has been installed on Shawclough Road in Rochdale to improve road safety for schoolchildren and other residents, as part of a £1.9 million borough wide upgrade funded by Transport for Greater Manchester.

A rare Pegasus crossing has been officially unveiled on Shawclough Road, Rochdale, in a major safety enhancement for children, cyclists, and horse riders near three local schools.

The new crossing, located near Shawclough and Healey primary schools and Falinge Park High School, is just the third of its kind in the borough and forms part of a £1.9 million investment in road safety improvements across Rochdale. Unlike standard crossings, Pegasus crossings include features specifically for equestrians, alongside pedestrians, cyclists, and wheelchair users.

The scheme has been welcomed by local leaders and educators, with Councillor Shah Wazir, cabinet member for highways at Rochdale Borough Council, describing the development as a “fantastic new facility” that encourages walking and cycling to school. He also noted the benefit of improved access to Healey Dell Nature Reserve, calling it “one of the jewels in the borough’s crown”.

The crossing links directly with a forest path running from Cronkeyshaw Common on Fieldhouse Road to Shawclough Road. The path built along the disused Rochdale to Bacup railway line is now split into two lanes at the crossing: one for horse riders and one for pedestrians and cyclists. The route once carried coal trains and ceased operation in the 1960s.

To further support safe access, a new path has been built on the Dell Road side, allowing cyclists and walkers to avoid the often busy Dell Road and Shawclough Road junction.

Vikki Rayment, deputy headteacher of Shawclough Primary School, said the improvements will boost safety and promote healthier lifestyles among pupils. “This will encourage children to walk, cycle or scooter, which brings huge health benefits for them,” she added.

The crossing is the first of several set to be installed throughout 2025. Others are underway in Middleton, where Oldham Road’s new crossing near Warwick Mill is almost finished, and in Smallbridge, where a new facility on Halifax Road is now under construction. Future projects are also planned for Heywood and Kirkholt.

The scheme was delivered in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester and aims to reduce accidents, improve accessibility to natural areas, and promote active travel throughout the borough.

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